Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Dylan James

Scott Quinnell does it again and delivers rousing World Cup speech to Wales football team

Scott Quinnell has given a rousing speech about what it means to represent Wales on the international stage, ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

Quinnell recently appeared on The Central Club podcast and was interviewed by host Cullan Mais, who has a close connection to the former British Lion and Wales star.

Cullan actually appeared on the 2015 series of School Of Hard Knocks as he was battling heroin addiction at the time. It's where Quinnell gave this stirring speech in the dressing room which went viral.

READ MORE: Gary Lineker speaks Welsh on BBC's live TV coverage of World Cup

Seven years later and Cullan has gathered a cult following on the podcast scene with The Central Club, getting some icons of Welsh sport on to feature on his show.

When the pair were chatting about his School Of Hard Knocks speech, Cullan explained that he felt "numb" when he was listening to it at the time, because it felt like he was "on f*****g drugs".

"That'll teach you not to take drugs again because you never know when those opportunities are going to come past," responded Quinnell.

With the autumn rugby series well under way and the 2022 World Cup having just kicked off, Quinnell was asked to give an "inspirational speech for the Welsh boys" by Cullan.

"You've put me on the spot here now! It's one of those things, Michael Sheen does all that now doesn't he? He does the impromptu ones," said Quinnell.

"It doesn't matter where you are, it doesn't matter who you are as long as you're Welsh, as long as you're in the country.

"Whether you're playing rugby, whether you're playing football, whether you're playing rugby league, whether you're in New Zealand with the women. It's about 'hiraeth', it's about being Welsh.

"It's about having the ability to go out there and enjoy yourself.

Quinnell sits down with Cullan (The Central Club Podcast/YouTube)

"And more importantly than enjoying yourself, it's the team spirit, because you know the team - whether it's 11 people on the football field, 15 on the rugby, whether it's 13 in the rugby league. It's more than that.

"It's more than that because it's three and a half million people. Three and a half million people want you to do well. Three and a half million people are pulling for you. Three and a half million people is Team Wales!

"If you've got somebody behind you like Team Wales, then we can go and do f*****g anything, and I mean it. Good luck everybody.

"Cymru am byth, come on!"

Having drawn their opening match of the World Cup, Wales face Iran on Friday morning before coming up against old foes England on Tuesday in the final fixture of Group B in Qatar.

Read next:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.